Jack Wilshere expects Granit Xhaka to hold Arsenal midfield together

Jack Wilshere missed almost the entirety of last season with a broken foot.

Jack Wilshere believes that Granit Xhaka will be a brilliant addition to the Arsenal line-up as he can hold the midfield together and string passes which will allow the flair players like Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil to move forward and go all guns blazing. Xhaka made his first appearance for the Gunners in a pre-season friendly against the MLS All-Stars as a second half substitute and impressed with his crisp passing and movement off the ball.

Wilshere made way after a productive first half in the game for the north London club and will only get better after he gets more minutes under his belt. The 24-year-old missed almost the entirety of last season on the sidelines after breaking his foot in training. He travelled with the England squad to the European Championships in France but could not perform to his potential as the Three Lions crashed out to Iceland in the round of 16.

The Gunners were without a host of players for the fixture, including the French duo Laurent Koscielny and Olivier Giroud who were unavailable following their involvement in the Euros. Ramsey, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez are also unavailable and are unlikely to make the squad for their season opener against Liverpool on August 14. Wilshere, who has played against Xhaka in the youth level, believes that the Swiss will be a brilliant addition to the squad as he is a leader and can forge the middle of the park together.

Wilshere was part of England's Euro 2016 squad despite not completing a single 90 minutes last season.Getty Images

"I've played against him a few times at youth level for England and also for the first team with England, so I know him quite well," Wilshere told Arsenal's official website. "I've always thought he was a good player, he's very strong and has got a good left foot. He's a leader he can hold the midfield together and can get things going from back to front. He's a good signing."

The Gunners will now play Mexican outfit Chivas de Guadalajara for their final game in the States, before going back to Europe to take on the Vikings and ending their pre-season with a game against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.